Foreign travel checklist

Research your destination

• get up-to-date advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences by checking foreign travel advice for the country you’re visiting

Get insured before you go

• get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Check that it covers the places you will visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities such as adventure sports

• tell your insurance company about any medical conditions, including undiagnosed conditions which are being investigated, and check that your policy will cover these

Check your documents for travel

• sign your passport and complete the emergency contacts page

• ensure that your passport meets the entry requirements for the country you are visiting (for example, it may need to be valid for a set period after your trip ends)

• get the correct visa for your destination

• take an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport

• if you are travelling with children check whether you need extra documentation

• if you plan to drive abroad check whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP)

Consider your health

• check the healthcare advice for all countries you’re visiting

• check what vaccinations you need and what health precautions you should take at least 8 weeks before you travel

• check the rules on taking your medicine abroad

• if you are travelling to an EU country or Switzerland, apply for a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), if your GHIC (or EHIC) has expired. An EHIC or GHIC may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs. It is not a substitute for travel insurance

• check whether your accommodation has suitable health and safety standards, including fire safety, and be aware of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Read Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance on solo and independent travel or volunteering and adventure travel, with further information on the risks from carbon monoxide poisoning. You can also check NHS information about the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

• be alert to the risk of spiked and contaminated drinks, including methanol poisoning – check Travel Aware and foreign travel advice for more information

Prepare for the unexpected

• have a backup plan for accessing key information such as your accommodation details, flight details, passport details, contact numbers and insurance policy (for example, in case you lose your phone). Share it with friends or family or store online using a secure data storage platform

• print out health insurance documents and carry a copy with you

• avoid getting in to financial difficulties abroad by ensuring you can access enough money to pay for unexpected costs or if your main payment method fails (for example, because you have lost your phone and cannot complete two-factor authentication)

• make a note of how to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission, or consulate

• read support for British nationals abroad for guidance on staying safe abroad, and the help the FCDO can provide

• read about how the FCDO can help you if you are affected by a crisis abroad such as a large-scale terrorist attack, natural disaster, or political unrest

• stay up to date before and during travel by following FCDO Travel Advice on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for email alerts on GOV.UK

Contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the FCDO in London 24 hours a day on 020 7008 5000 for advice. You should also read the privacy notice to see how the FCDO will process your data.

Feedback

We welcome your views on the support we provide, to help us to identify what we do well and what we could do better. Contact us using our feedback contact form.

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Or telephone +44 (0)20 7008 5000

Disclaimer

Our foreign travel checklist aims to help you plan for a trouble-free trip. It is not exhaustive. No foreign travel can be guaranteed as safe, and you take personal responsibility for your own travel. You can read the disclaimer relating to this guidance.